Mactan Island

Mactan Island, Cebu: World-Class Resorts and Tropical Paradise

Mactan Island is just off the coast of Cebu City and is home to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, making it one of the easiest places to reach in the Visayas.

Mactan is in the Central Visayas, about a one-hour flight from Manila, and most people arrive by flying straight into the island’s own airport.

For years, I’d only really associated Mactan with the airport. I never thought much about it as a holiday destination until I visited in December 2012 for a mate’s wedding at Shangri-La Mactan.

And bloody hell, was I impressed!

The resort was absolutely sensational. Beautiful tropical gardens, enormous swimming pools and its own private beach. It was like stepping into a tropical paradise.

We also spent a couple of nights at the Imperial Palace Waterpark, which was fantastic for the kids.

Mactan might not have the natural attractions or spectacular scenery you’ll find elsewhere in Cebu, but if you’re looking for a relaxing resort holiday, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Best Time to Visit Mactan Island

February to April is generally a great time to visit Mactan Island, particularly if you’re planning to spend most of your holiday swimming, relaxing by the pool or enjoying the beach.

Having said that, December was absolutely perfect when we visited. Blue skies, plenty of sunshine and virtually no rain. Exactly what you want for a tropical resort holiday.

June to November tends to bring more unsettled weather, with a greater chance of heavy rain and tropical storms. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a resort holiday during these months, although you might have to spend more time indoors.

Things to Do on Mactan Island

For me, Mactan is primarily a resort destination. There are certainly other things to do, including historical attractions, snorkelling, diving and island-hopping, but I reckon most people come here to enjoy the beachfront resorts.

And there’s nothing wrong with that!

Shangri-La Mactan Resort

We stayed at Shangri-La Mactan for my mate’s wedding, along with a bunch of his friends who’d come over from Australia.

I’d heard of the Shangri-La before, but I wasn’t expecting anything quite this impressive.

The whole place was beautifully designed, with tropical gardens, palm trees, enormous swimming pools and a lovely private beach.

I honestly don’t think I’d seen swimming pools quite that big before. It almost felt like several pools joined together, surrounded by beautiful landscaping.

I remember sitting in the pool with the boys from Australia, enjoying a few cocktails and having a great time wishing time would stop forever. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

The beach was another highlight. It wasn’t kilometres of open coastline, just a beautiful stretch of sand with sun loungers, umbrellas and a few rock formations.

It felt exclusive, peaceful and exactly what you’d expect from a luxury tropical resort.

We spent some time walking around, exploring the grounds and taking photos. We didn’t bother with snorkelling or other water activities. There was more than enough to enjoy without leaving the property.

Even today, I reckon Shangri-La Mactan would be hard to beat for a relaxing resort holiday.

Imperial Palace Waterpark (Now Jpark Island Resort)

After the wedding, we moved to the Imperial Palace Waterpark for a couple of nights, mainly because our kids were still pre-teenagers and we wanted somewhere they’d have a great time.

And that they did!

The place was packed with activities. Swimming pools, water slides, a wave pool and plenty of families enjoying themselves.

One feature I particularly remember was winding Amazon River pool that ran around in a circuit, almost like a moat. It was a great way to float around and cool off.

There were also quieter pools and shaded areas where you could escape the scorching sun. And, of course, there was a swim-up pool bar, which was of particular interest to me!

It was certainly busier than the Shangri-La, although you could still find somewhere to relax.

If you’re travelling with young kids, this is exactly the sort of place I’d recommend. If you’re after a romantic getaway or somewhere to completely unwind, I’d personally choose Shangri-La.

The Imperial Palace has since been renamed Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark. It still features its wave pool, waterslides and winding Amazon River pool.

Other Things to See and Do

Although we spent our stay chilling at the resorts, Mactan does have a few attractions worth checking out if you want to venture beyond your hotel.

• Mactan Shrine: Commemorates the 1521 Battle of Mactan, when Lapu-Lapu’s warriors defeated Ferdinand Magellan’s forces.
• Island-hopping: Take a boat trip to nearby islands such as Hilutungan, Nalusuan and Caohagan for swimming and snorkelling.
• Diving and snorkelling: Explore the reefs and marine sanctuaries around Mactan and neighbouring islands.
• Olango Island: A nearby island known for its bird sanctuary and coastal scenery.

We didn’t do any of these activities ourselves, although they’re worth considering if you’re staying for more than a couple of days.

How Many Days Do You Need?

I’d recommend two to three nights if you’re visiting Mactan primarily for a resort holiday. We spent a couple of nights at the Shangri-La and another couple of nights at Imperial Palace, which worked out well.

If you’ve got kids and you’re staying somewhere like Jpark, you could easily spend several days enjoying the waterpark. For couples, a long weekend at a luxury beachfront resort would be pretty hard to beat.

Where to Stay on Mactan Island

Mactan has several impressive beachfront resorts, particularly around Punta Engaño and Maribago.

A few worth considering include:

• Shangri-La Mactan: My personal favourite for tropical surroundings, beautiful pools and a private beach.
• Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark: An excellent choice for families with younger children.
• Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu: Another luxury beachfront resort with a Mediterranean-inspired design.
• Plantation Bay Resort and Spa: Known for its expansive lagoon-style swimming areas and peaceful resort setting.

Mövenpick and Plantation Bay are worth checking out, although I haven’t personally stayed at either.

How to Get to Mactan Island

Getting to Mactan is relatively straightforward because Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located right on the island.

From Manila: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia operate direct flights to Cebu. Flying time is approximately 1 hour.

From other Philippine cities: Cebu also has direct flight connections with destinations including Clark, Davao, Iloilo and numerous other cities. Check current airline schedules before booking.

From Cebu City: Mactan is connected to mainland Cebu by road bridges. Depending on traffic and your departure point, the journey generally takes around 30 to 60 minutes.

From Mactan-Cebu International Airport: Most major resorts are approximately 15 to 30 minutes away by taxi, Grab or hotel transfer.

We flew directly from Manila and I don’t remember any particular difficulties getting to the resorts.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Mactan is best enjoyed as a resort destination rather than a sightseeing holiday.
• February to April generally offers the best chance of dry, sunny weather.
• Resort beaches are often relatively small compared with the Philippines’ famous island beaches.
• Book popular beachfront resorts early, particularly during holidays and peak travel periods.
• Allow extra travel time if crossing between Mactan and Cebu City during busy periods.

Dezza’s Tip

If you’re visiting Mactan Island and can afford to splash out a little, I’d seriously consider staying at Shangri-La. I’ve stayed at some beautiful resorts around the Philippines, and this one genuinely blew me away. The enormous swimming pools, tropical gardens and private beach were absolutely sensational.

If you’ve got young kids, Jpark is probably the better option. They’ll have a ball with all the water slides and swimming pools.

For me, though, nothing beats sitting beside that beautiful Shangri-La beach with a lunchtime cocktail, soaking up the tropical surroundings.

That’s my idea of a bloody good holiday!

You Might Also Like

Where Is Mactan Island?